John Brooks
| John Brooks | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 11th Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office May 30, 1816 – May 31, 1823 |
|
| Preceded by | Caleb Strong |
| Succeeded by | William Eustis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 4, 1752 Medford, Massachusetts |
| Died | March 1, 1825 (aged 72) Medford, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse(s) | Lucy Smith |
| Religion | Unitarian |
John Brooks (May 4, 1752 – March 1, 1825) was the 11th Governor of Massachusetts from 1816 to 1823; he was the last significant Federalist elected official in office in the United States.
Before entering public life, John Brooks had established careers in medicine and as a military leader during the American Revolution. Having already trained as a doctor in his hometown of Medford, he began his medical practice in Reading, where he became the Captain of the Reading Minutemen. He led them in the Battle of Concord and at Bunker Hill. He accepted a commission as Captain in the Continental Army and took part in battles in White Plains, Valley Forge, and Long Island.
He returned to take over the practice of his mentor Dr. Simon Tufts in 1783, and two years later was elected to the General Court. He was appointed Major General of the Middlesex Militia in 1786, which he led in suppressing Shays' Rebellion. He was appointed Adjutant General (1812–1816) and won the governorship with the Federalist Party in 1816.
It was during Brooks's tenure that Massachusetts' territory of Maine became an independent state. Having served seven terms, Brooks declined to run for an eighth term and retired to private life. His body is interred at Salem Street Burying Ground in Medford, Massachusetts.
The Maine towns of Brooks, established in 1816, and Brooksville, in 1817, were named for him.
[edit] Source
- Official Commonwealth of Massachusetts Governor Biography
- John Brooks Genealogy Wiki Genealogy profile for Governor Brooks
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Caleb Strong |
Governor of Massachusetts May 30, 1816 – May 31, 1823 |
Succeeded by William Eustis |
